Reason #5: The Miami Heat have Erik Spoelstra
Erik Spoelstra is considered by most to be the best head coach in the NBA. Along with the player development staff, a big reason for players reaching new heights with the Heat is Spoelstra’s coaching ability.
If any coach can make a guy with Simmons’s skillset work in today’s NBA, it is Spoelstra. Defensively, Simmons can be great in both man and zone and be used in a variety of ways. While his confidence in his offensive game may be gone, Simmons still has the natural athleticism and instincts to be a great defender with any team, never mind with the Heat.
On offense, things may get a bit tricky, but with his playmaking and slashing ability when locked in, Simmons can be used as a playmaking big, somewhat like how the Heat use Adebayo. It would be hard to have the two players on the court at the same time due to a lack of three-point shooting, but no player beyond Bam currently on the Heat roster has the combination of size and playmaking that can be a focal point of an offense.
While Simmons likely won’t get a lot of minutes, if he is on the court whenever Adebayo is off it, then the Heat can always have a player with size, playmaking, and switchability in the frontcourt, a rare skillset for a team to have one of, never mind two.
While acquiring Simmons in this scenario is more about getting Lillard, there is a world where Simmons becomes a valuable contributor to the Heat roster. As I said before, if anybody can make Simmons work again, it’s Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra, and the Miami Heat culture.
Miami Heat get good news regarding Damian Lillard trade
Per ESPN, there are teams that would be willing to trade for Tyler Herro as a third team in a deal that sends Damian Lillard to the Miami Heat.